Gaelic football predictions and betting tips: Goals on the menu in Dublin

Free GAA football tips, best bets and preview for the opening weekend of the 2022 season.

Best Bets

Kildare to score under 15.5 points
4pts 8-11 Paddy Power

Armagh to score over 1.5 goals
2pts 7-2 BoyleSports

Donegal
2pts 13-8 BoyleSports

Meath
2pts 9-4 BoyleSports

Dublin v Armagh

RTE2, 7.30pm Saturday

Armagh scored at least one goal in all of their Division 1 outings last year, including two against All-Ireland champions Tyrone, and they have developed the canny knack of creating loads of goal-scoring opportunities under Kieran McGeeney.

In last year's Ulster championship they scored four goals against Antrim and then netted two in their heartbreaking loss to Monaghan, one of the greatest games of Gaelic football ever witnessed. It was utterly bonkers.

The way Armagh play is pretty bonkers too, with players switching positions at various stages of the game. Most of their forward line can adapt and play in any position up front and that variation could pose a pretty inexperienced Dublin defenceproblems.

Rian O'Neill seems to have started 2021 in style and don't rule out an upset at Croke Park. It was tempting to tip an Armagh win but better value is 7-2 that the visitors to net two or more goals.

Kildare v Kerry

TG4, 1.45pm Sunday

Kerry boss Jack O'Connor is sure to have made a more solid defensive structure his first priority since taking over and that can help lay the foundations for an opening-round victory at Kildare, hot favourites for the drop.

Kerry conceded only 0-11 to Galway in their Division 1 opener last season and are usually quick breakers from the traps in the league.

They look sure to have loads of possession against Kildare and asking the Lilywhites to get to 16 points against a Division 1 side at any stage of the season is a big ask, never mind in January, so mop up the 8-11 for the hosts to score 15 points or fewer.

Mayo v Donegal

Premier Sports 2, 1.45pm Sunday

Mayo will begin 2022 in the same way they start a lot of seasons - having to recover from a gut-wrenching All-Ireland final defeat.

They are notoriously slow starters in the league so it is a surprise to see them so short against Donegal, especially when they do not even have home advantage.

The fixture is a home game for James Horan's side but McHale Park in Castlebar is undergoing a surface upgrade and no other venue in the county was deemed big enough, so the match is to be staged at Markievicz Park.

That is a definite advantage to Donegal, who go into the tie following a McKenna Cup final where they rallied bravely against Monaghan and almost snatched the spoils. Michael Murphy came on as a substitute and kicked six points so he looks sure to start.

This Donegal side are genuine Division 1 and they should be disputing favouritism, and certainly not 13-8 shots.

Galway v Meath

Sunday 2pm

The two favourites for promotion from Division 2 clash in the opening round at Pearse Stadium and Meath look decent value at 9-4 to upset hosts Galway.

The Tribesmen were in disarray during the second half of their Connacht final loss to Mayo and don't appear to be progressing under Padraic Joyce.

Meath, in contrast, go into the new campaign following a resilient display against Dublin and have a nice blend of youth and experience in their side. They now possess the forwards to do real damage and look overpriced.

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